Orienting device



Dec. 14, 1954 R. w. BAILEY EI'AL ORIENTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1955 R A p v M-/// l MAN W/ m 1 m? y I} w m 5 M M m m N a M m NN .0#1 A f w lllxlll lll l llllll Dec. 14, 1954 R. w. BAILEY arm. 2,696,902

ORIENTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTORS, For :0. 3, 11.5 Jamu Mauls Fm L Dec. 14, 1954 R. w. BAILEY :rm.

ORIENTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1953 is stopped at the opposite end thereof.

United States Patent Ofifice 2,696,962 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 ORIENTING DEVICE Roy W. Bailey and John T. Faull, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Detroit Power Screwdriver Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,527

11 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) The present invention pertains to a novel device for orienting shell-like work pieces and delivering them uniformly to a chute that leads to another apparatus.

The work pieces are delivered in lengthwise position to the orienting device. Some will reach the device open end first and others closed end first. The orienting device handles the work pieces so that all are delivered with the open end facing in the same direction.

The principal object of the invention is toprovide a reliable and effective mechanism for performing this-operatlon.

The device of the invention includes an oscillated disk having a peripheral pocket adapted to aline with the chute. The disk is mounted on a support having a hole therethrough spaced from the chute end with which the pocket is adapted to register on oscillation.

A slidable pin extends into the pocket, and work piece that approaches the pocket open end first will seat on the pin. As the pocket is moved toward the hole, the pin is withdrawn from the pocket, and the piece drops through the hole into a discharge chute, with its open end facing inward on the disk.

'A piece that approaches the disk closed end first is stopped by the pin. The empty pocket moves toward the hole, while the work piece is retained at the chute. The disk is formed with a diametrical hole spaced angularly from the pocket. At the end of the first half of the oscillation, the diametrical hole receives the work piece, which now slides through the diametrical hole but On the second half of the oscillation, this end of the diametrical hole is brought, with the work piece therein, over the hole to the support. The disk has a hole through its bottom at the end of the diametrical hole where the work piece is held. This bottom hole becomes uncovered when it overlies the hole in the disk, so that the work piece drops through the disk into the chute. the disk closed end first, has been dropped into the chute facing inward of the disk, in the same relative position as the piece that approached the disk open end first.

The discharge chute is equipped with an escapement mechanism that permits the work pieces to drop through it in regulated order. This mechanism is operated from the mechanism that oscillates the disk, which is preferably a fluid cylinder having its piston rod attached to a rack meshing with a gear on the disk.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical elevation at right angles to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the parts in a different position;

Figure 6 is an elevation on the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figures 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7--7 and 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 5;

figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 1, an

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The device is assembled on a mounting plate 1 which This piece, which approached a in turn may be attached to the standard of another machine or other support. The plate 1 is formed with a boss 2 (Figure 4) in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 3 in a bearing sleeve 4. The shaft 3 has a reduced extension 5 for a purpose that will presently be described. The plate 1 has an upwardly extending flange 6 on which is mounted a substantially semicircular dropout plate 7 having a dropout hole 8 for discharge of the parts as will be described.

On the extension5 is secured a gear 10, and on the upper end of the gear is centrally mounted a circular selector member 11. This member has a diametrical hole 12 in which is fitted a liner 13. The member 11 also has a radical slot 14 (Figure 2) at right angles to the hole 12 terminating in a somewhat wider pocket 15. In the pocket is fitted an insert 16 shaped to receive and retain a work piece.

A chute 17 extends from a supply receptacle (not shown) to the selector member 11 to register at times with the insert 16 or the hole 12 by oscillation of the member 11 by means that will be described. In the chute 17 is mounted a suitable escapement mechanism designated generally by the numeral 18 and adapted to deliver the work pieces one at a time to the selector 11. The escapement may be of any suitable construction and therefore is not described in detail.

A bracket 20 (Figure 2) is secured beneath the mounting 1 to carry an air cylinder 21. The piston rod 22 extending from the cylinder carries an arm 23 to which is fastened a rack carrier 24 lying parallel to the axis of the cylinder. To the carrier 24 in turn is fastened a shorter rack 25 meshing with the gear 10. It may now be seen that the reciprocation of the rack with the piston rod 22 oscillates with the gear 10 and the selector member 11' as indicated above and shown in Figure 4.

Adjacent to the pocket 15, the diameter of the member 11 is reduced to form a notch 30 (Figure 1) extending about 90 to a point beyond the end of the hole 12. In this notch is secured a wall member 31 having a hole 32 registering with said end of the hole 12. The member 31 retains some of the work pieces reachingthe lower end of the chute 17, during oscillation of the member 11.

On the top of the member '11, along the edges of the slot 14 are fastened guide strips 33. Each such strip has a longitudinal slot 34 in its side so that the slots face each other (Figure 4). Between the guides 33 is a slide 35 with ribs 36 received in the slots 34. At one end of the slide is a right angular foot 37 extending into the slot 14. A pin 38 lying centrally of the pocket 15 and radially of the member 11 is secured to the foot 37 as shown in Figure 2.

On the fixed plate 1 is mounted an arcuate strip 40 extending from the chute 17 in clockwise direction as in Figure 1, covering one end of the hole 12, but leaving open the previously mentioned end that is traversed by the member 31. On a portion of the member 40 is secured a camplate 41 extending approximately 90 from the chute 17. It will be noted that the member 40 is attached to the plate 7 which in turn is fastened to the flange 6 of the mounting 1. The cam 41 therefore retains a fixed position. An arm 42 is secured upon the slide 35 and carries a roller 43 riding on the cam surface 44 of the plate 41 (Figures 1 and 2).

Upon the member 11 in line with the slide 35 is mounted a spring retainer 45 containing a coil spring 46 normally projecting outwardly therefrom. Onthe exposed end of the spring is fitted a plunger 47 that bears against the inner end of the slide 35 when the latter begins to move inward by cam action, whereby the member 42 and the cam pin 38 are projected outwardly as far as permitted by the cam surface 44.

On the mounting 1 at opposite sides of the arm 23 are mounted bearing blocks 48 for the rack carrier slide 24, as shown in Figure 6. In each of these blocks is fitted a bolt 49. adjustably held by a lock nut 50. These bolts are in the path of the arm 23 and serve as adjustable stops for the arm and thus for the rack 25.

The rotatable member 11 carries a stop plate 51 with pads 52 in the ends, shown in Figure 5. One of the pads stops against the chute 17 and the other against a block 53 on the mounting 1, thereby limiting the movements of the oscillating member 11.

A discharge chute 60 is suspended from the fixed structure at the'h6le"8"in -the plate7. An escapernent is provided in the chute 60 to prevent misalinement and jamming of the shell-like workpieces 61 dropped through the *hole'*8 by the-'means' previously described.

lForfthis purpose a pairzof mounting blocks 65 are -se- "cure'd 'to'the .fixedypla-te" 7 rand *aline'd =on'uanr axis parallel "-to:the chute--17. Eachtblock has-'an-operi-ing fli "(Figures "4nand 6') and apair ofinwardly extending opposing flips "-67. An 'escapement ;slide 6'8..has -a pair' of i-laterallyex- ..tended'end portions 69* fitted jin the' openings- 66"andre '"tainedby the lips 67"whieh enter 'opposed'notches 70 in the, prtions 69.

A right =angled arrn 7-1 ("'F i gures3, i105 and 11) is se- :cured.at onesendto'the pistonsrod 22*and hasits'other pendformedwith-a*notchf'l2. At the center of' ther'slide ('68 'are formed opposed. notches "The-*narrowed portion"7'4 iibetween the notches 73 is inserted inrthe -notch 7 2, whereby the ;parts are zinterlocked by the engagement of the walls of n0tches73 with thesuffaces'of the-notched .leg of the arm 11.

Upon each portion 69isfasteneda blade carrier '75 having ,a seat 76 ,formed in'-it,s upper surface. "ln 'the .seats are secured-'escapement b1ades77 and ,78'extendjing intothe c'hute'60 towards ,an.area=-b,elow-'the*hole8.

As :the arm 7'1,,is reeiprocated with f;the p'iston rod 222, ,the slideg'68 is likewise reciprocated. :Thus, on'movement-ofjthe ,slideJGS, one of therescapement blades ,Wlil move 'into the chute 160 zarid thevother -out'rifthe chute. Ihe.,length of the blades'is ,such'that one or the :other .wilLflieJbelow' the hole'fittocatchthe work pieces dl that have dropped .through'it, While'in "an-intermediate PO- sit-ion o'f the .Slide 68 neitherllblade 'will 1 be in the "chute ,.and .,thepiece .61 will'be permitted to continue "down- ,ward. The work pieces are delivered in (a uniform; rela- .;tion;thro.ugh .the ,chute' to another machine (not :shown) whichperformsa specified operation onthem.

'A'lateral chute"81,i.szsupportedifromthefixedstructure .byralsuitable bracket ('82 and, enters'the chute"60 below :Lthe .orientingmechanism. "The .ehutesl is; use'dfofhand zffee'dingtiin the tevent tthatfthe torienting' mechanism is "out me operation.

.Theoperat-ion of the device will now"be summarized, valthough, it has. already been indicated in steps. 'Ashell- ,open Y,end ,.first wjll ibereceived on the ;pin.38. As-the smemberillgis turned-by the track2'5 and the gear E1 th ;-,p iece.' .85 a "be advanced to the rlrop.out"ho1e8. "Me anwhile, ,t-he. roller 43. -riding .on gthercam edgeMwill with- :draw 1 the pinfSS from the workpiece ,so' that "thepiece 50 will fall through :the $116116 '18 to the vescapernei'it blades .',.If the work ,piecetdescends .closed 'end first, it ,will *be ,s.topped by, the v.p'ini13i8. QAsQthe member 11 is turnelck'the piece wi11. be',held.,in..the same position"'--by""the :wall mem- '.,ber v 31. jAtla completion-of the190 'movernenho'f the ,member v,11, the hole '12 0f ,tl'iisrmern'ber will register swithitheuchute land rece'iveihe work',;piece. The latter wvillnslideto 'thesoppositesen'd or 'theihole 12, duetothe inclined:positiontoflhe, memberlill, ;.and will "be stopped thestrip-AO. IOn'the,reversemovement Ofcthe :mem- .ber :11 by -.the .r-aekaand gear, Ihe work piece will Itbe =brought :toathe holeiS. ,For guidingthe, piece to"the"h '-le 1,8, t. the plate "7 ,;is ..formed, ion .the clockwise side ofzthe hole 8, with a pocket86 with afbottQmISTthat vslopes in:twosdirections,,increasing in de th radially inward sand"counterclohkwise as shown ,in"F igures"6,"7 and 8.

Although atspeeific embodiment of "the" invention "has been ,il-lustratedand describedjit wjillibe understood that war-ions al'terationsninrthe details of construction wi'll'**be made twithoutxlepartingffrom the r'SQOPQ of the invention as indicated :by .,the.,appen'de'.d claims.

What we claimiis:

lorienting device "comprising ,.a .1S1JPPQH, a disk trotatably-mounted thereon, ,a.,fee'd';ehute"1eading ,to said disk, a :fixed,.plate-,beneathssaid disk :and having ,aihole *zt-herethrough::spaceduangulatly;frornasaidchute,- said disk 16d pin extending from said ,vdiskrtinto vsaid-pocket to ,re-

'zceive a,shell-l-i ke--work pieceqdelivered-rbytsaid,chute, a vslidesattachedstoesaid pin, .a -fixedscamton said support between said chute and saidshole andien fl dlby ssald slide, said cam decreasing in its distance'from the cen- 3 ter of said disk as it proceeds from said chute to said "hole and dimensioned to withdraw said pin from said pocket as the pin approaches said hole, and a discharge chute extending from said hole, said disk having a diametrical hole therethrough at an angle to the axis of said pin, the latter angle being equal to the angle between said chute andthe-rfirst hole, the diametrical hole being adapted .t/orregisten-withlsaid feed chute and to receive workpieces therefrom, means for obstructting ,thfi'filldl'Oficthfi diametrieaLhole oppositeuthe end there- .nf thatrregisters-twiththe feedschuteusaidtdisk having a hole therethrougheatvthe ,firstcnamedtenda-of thediametrical hole and adapted to register with the first named holeLtoadrop- 1a workrpiecettherein.

2. An orienting device comprising a support, a disk rotatably mountedthereon, a feedchute leading to said disk, a fixed plate beneath said disk and having a hole therethrough spaced angularly from said chute, said disk 'havinga po'cket adapte'd toregister W-ithtsdldfithu'ie and 20 With 1 saidfhole, means 1 for oscillating said disk to move said pocket from said chute to said ',hole, a "s'li'dably mounted =pin :extending from sa-id disk into 'said pocket to receive a -shell' like -work -piece delivered by said chute, *a slide --at'tac hed -to said gpin, a= fixed cam--on said support between "said chute '-.and -said"=hole and engaged by said slide, said cam decreas'ing in its distance from the center or said disk as it -proceeds from said chute to said'1hole and 'fdimensioned' to withdraw said pin from said pocket as the pin approaches said hole, and adischarge chute extending from said hole, 'said 'd-i'sk having l-a diametrical hole *therethrou'gh :at an angle to the axis of said pin, thelatter angle being =equal -to' the angle between said chute and-the first hole, the diarnetrical hole being adapted -to 'registerwith'said feed chute and to :reeeivework*pieees therefrom, a fixe'd- -stopplate on rsaid supportopposite sa'id feed-chute, -'extending to "the J first Ehole and positioned to "obstruct 'one end of the diamet'rical hole when "the other :end thereof registers width the feed chute; said 'di'sk having a'fhole'therethrou'gh 40 at the first named end of the diametrical -hole and-adapted to'register with"thefirstnamedfhole-rto drop a wofk piece therein.

"3. 'A device asset forth-fin claim i lywherein the plane of'said disk slopes downward-from the first named chute, saiddisk having-adiametrieal holethere'throug-h :at "an "angleflto the-axistofsaid, pin,-thelatter an'gle be'ing equal tothe anglebetween. said 'chute'and'the firsthole, the fidiametrical' hole being' adapteidt toregister with said feed chute .and to receive work pieces therefrom, *means for "obstructing the end of ,the *diarnetricalih'ole opposite the end thereof thatregisters with the feed chute,- said Fdisk having a "hole -therethrough '-at the first anamedend of the diametrical hole and adapted *to "register with*the first namedhole to drop .a workpiece therein.

:4. A device'as set'forth'inclaim'2, 'wher'ein'the plane of said diskxslopes" downward fromthe' first' named-chute.

5. Adevice as *setforth in'c'laim 1, "further characterized-by an :escapement mechanism in saiddischarge chute gperatively connected to said means, said disk having -a diametrical hole therethrou'gh :at an angle to the axis of'sa'id ;pin, thelatter angleflbeing equal to the angle between said "chute zan'dthef'first -hole,;'the diametrical hole being adapted to register with "said Zfeed chute .and to receive work -pieces therefrom, .means 'for ob- 'structing the-end of the ,.diametrical hole opposite the end thereof 'thatregisters'with the feetl'chute, said disk having a hole therethrough at the first named "end of the diametrical hole and adapted Io-register with the first named hole tor-drop a"workgpieceqtherein.

6. A device'as set forthin c1airn2, furthertharacterized by an .escapernentmechanism in said discharge v.chute operatively connected to said-means.

"7. An orienting device'comprising asupporh a disk rotatably mounted thereon, a feed chute leading tosaid disk, ,a*fixe'd plate 'beneath said disk :andhaving a ,hole

therethrough spaced angula'rly'fromsaid-chut 'said disk having apocket, adapted to register with said'chute and with said hole, .agear on said. disk, a -.rack sl-idably mounted on said support and rnes'liingwi'th -said.;gear, means for oscillating .said rack, whereby to move :said .pocket ,from said 'chuteto "said .hole, '-a 'slidably "mounted pin extending from saiddisk into:said pocket'to'receive a shell like work piece delivered by :sai'd'chutega-slide .attached to said pin, a fixed :cam "on said :supportbetween saidchute and -said"'h 1eand engaged "by said slide, said cam decreasing in its distance from the center of said disk as it proceeds from said chute to said hole and dimensioned to withdraw said pin from said pocket as the pin approaches said hole, and a discharge chute extending from said hole, said disk having a diametrical hole therethrough at an angle to the axis of said pin, the latter angle being equal to the angle between said chute and the first hole, the diametrical hole being adapted to register with said feed chute and to receive Work pieces therefrom, means for obstructing the end of the diametrical hole opposite the end thereof that registers with the feed chute, said disk having a hole therethrough at the first named end of the diametrical hole and adapted to register with the first named hole to drop a work piece therein.

8. An orienting device comprising a support, a disk rotatably mounted thereon, a feed chute leading to said disk, a fixed plate beneath said disk and having a hole therethrough spaced angular-1y from said chute, said disk having a pocket adapted to register with said chute and with said hole, a gear on said disk, a rack slidably mounted on said support and meshing with said gear, means for oscillating said rack, whereby to move said pocket from said chute to said hole, a slidably mounted pin extending from said disk into said pocket to receive a shell-like work piece delivered by said chute, a slide attached to said pin, a fixed cam on said support between said chute and said hole and engaged by said slide, said cam decreasing in its distance from the center of said disk as it proceeds from said chute to said hole and dimensioned to withdraw said pin from said ,pocket as the pin approaches said hole, and a discharge chute extending from said hole, said disk having a diametrical hole therethrough at an angle to the axis of said pin, the latter angle being equal to the angle between said chute and the first hole, the diametrical hole being adapted to register with said feet chute and to receive work pieces therefrom, a fixed stop plate on said support opposite said feed chute, extending to the first hole and positioned to obstruct one end of the diametrical hole when the other end thereof registers with the feed chute, said disk having a hole therethrough at the first named end of the diametrical hole and adapted to register with the first named hole to drop a work piece therein.

9. A device as set forth in claim 6, further characterized by an escapement mechanism in said discharge chute operatively connected to said means.

10. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plane of said disk slopes downward from the first named c ute.

11. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plane of said disk slopes downward from the first named chute, and further characterized by an escapement mechanism in said discharge chute operatively connected to said means.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

